SAARC Summits End with Last- Minute Energy Deal

After the stalemate, an agreement to salvage the SAARC summit at Kathmandu came at the last minute as heads of state attending their first summit in three years have reached a deal on energy sharing.

The agreement will enable greater cooperation in the power sector among South Asian countries.

On the last day of the two-day summit on Thursday, the leaders flew to a mountain resort near Nepal’s capital Kathmandu and agreed on electricity sharing through a common grid.

During the retreat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif shook hands and talked in a group, but did have one-on-one dialogue, according to Nepalese officials.

Indian officials have already said exchanging courtesies among the leaders did not mean talks between the two South Asian nations.